In Poulsbo, it's never too early to make lutefisk

Carol Zach, 84, places lefse on a hot griddle at First Lutheran Church in Poulsbo on Friday. Volunteers are already preparing for First Lutheran’s annual lutefisk dinner, which is Oct. 19.

Helen Kaupanger places lefse on a table to cool.

Barbara Webb rolls out lefse at First Lutheran Church in Poulsbo on Friday. Webb has been making lefse for the annual lutefisk for about 40 years.

POULSBO - Prep work for First Lutheran Church’s annual lutefisk dinner begins a week before the event.

Close to 100 volunteers — some of them fourth- or fifth-generation volunteers — from the church and other groups pitch in to prepare traditionally Norwegian foods: meatballs, lefse, krumkake and the main course, lutefisk.

This year marks the 101st year the church has organized the dinner, which benefits area nonprofits.

In recent years, anywhere from 700 to 900 dinners have been served, according to Hildur Gleason, a volunteer and member of the First Lutheran Church.

Several feedings will be available Oct. 19, with the earliest being 11:40 a.m., she said. Feedings will occur every 20 minutes until 4:20 p.m. The meal costs $20 per adult and $5 for children under 12.

The church has bought 250 pounds of potato to make lefse, a Norwegian flatbread, and 1,000 pounds of fish to make the lutefisk, she said.

“It’s an occasion where people enjoy food and following and being part of the tradition,” Gleason said. “Nice in this day and age we can (still) do that.”

The meal will be served at the church, which is located at 18920 4th Ave.